Apparatuses and methods for flexible fuse transmission

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods for transmitting fuse data from fuse arrays to latches are described. An example apparatus includes: a plurality of fuse arrays, each fuse array of the plurality of fuse arrays being configured to store input data; a fuse circuit that receives the input data and provides the input data on a bus; and a plurality of redundancy latch circuits coupled to the bus, including a plurality of pointers and a plurality of latches associated with the plurality of corresponding pointers that load data on the bus. The fuse circuit may control loading of the input data by controlling a location of a pointer among the plurality of corresponding pointers responsive to the input data.

BACKGROUND

High data reliability, high speed of memory access, lower power consumption and reduced chip size are features that are demanded from semiconductor memory. One way of achieving high data reliability is by introducing fuse arrays including a plurality of fuse sets and a plurality of redundancy decoders corresponding to the plurality of fuse sets to provide substitute rows/columns of memory cells for defective rows/columns of cells in a memory array. Each fuse set may store an address of a defective cell (Defective Address). Each redundant address decoder receives row/column address signals and compares the received row/column address signals to the defective addresses stored in the fuses. If the received row/column address signals correspond with a defective address stored in any fuse, access to the received row/column address is disabled and the redundant row/column address may be accessed instead. Defective addresses may be obtained and loaded by a plurality of tests, such as a Front End (FE) test in a manufacturing process and a Post Package Repair (PPR)/Back End (BE) test in a packaging process.

Each redundancy decoder may include a pointer (e.g., a flip-flop circuit) which enables its fuse loading. Flip-flop circuits of the plurality of redundancy decoders are coupled in a series, such as in a daisy chain. A location of the pointer in the daisy chain is shifted by every clock cycle and the address for each fuse set may be transmitted by every clock cycle. In this daisy chain configuration, relationships between pointers and corresponding fuse arrays during fuse loading are fixed based on a data structure of fuse arrays and a pointer structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of data structure of a fuse array in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a table of data combinations of Toke_Control_Bits stored in the fuse array, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a redundancy latch (RL) circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a simplified logic circuit diagram of a fuse circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus (and thus fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs)) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4D is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5A is a circuit diagram of a plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus (and thus fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs)) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6A is a simplified logic circuit diagram of a fuse circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus (and thus fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs)) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7D is a circuit diagram a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx of redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7E is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIGS. 7A to 7D.

FIG. 8A is a simplified logic circuit diagram of a fuse circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus (and thus fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs)) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8D is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIGS. 8A to 8C.

FIG. 9A is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B is a circuit diagram a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx of redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9D is a schematic diagram of fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 9C.

FIG. 9E is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIGS. 9A to 9D.

FIG. 10A is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram of fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 10B.

FIG. 10D is a circuit diagram a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx of redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10E is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIGS. 10A to 10D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and structure, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The various embodiments disclosed herein are not necessary mutually exclusive, as some disclosed embodiments can be combined with one or more other disclosed embodiments to form new embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1 in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1 may include a fuse block 2 and a redundancy latch block 3. The fuse block 2 may include a fuse array circuit 4 and a fuse circuit 5. The fuse array circuit 4 may include fuse arrays [1:n] 6 a to 6 g. Each of the fuse arrays 6 a to 6 g may include a plurality of fuses and may further store a token and a plurality of Token_Control_bits. Each fuse may be any kind of fuses. For example, each fuse may be a laser-fuse, an anti-fuse, and so on. The token may include a defective address (DA) including a row address and/or a column address of a defective cell, and an enable bit (EB) indicative of whether the defective address (DA) is valid or invalid. The plurality of Token_Control_bits may indicate a number of pointers to be skipped to enable or disable loading of fuse data from the plurality of fuses in each of the fuse arrays 6 a to 6 g. The fuse block 2 may function as a control circuit that includes the fuse circuit 5. The fuse circuit 5 may be disposed between the fuse array circuit 4 and the redundancy latch block 3. The fuse circuit 5 may receive a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk as a reference clock signal. The fuse circuit 5 may further receive a Fuse_Data_Out signal and the plurality of Token_Control_bits. The Fuse_Data_Out signal may include the defective address (DA) and the enable bit (EB). The fuse circuit 5 may process the plurality of Token_Control_bits and may further control loading of the defective address (DA) by controlling a location of an active pointer. For example, controlling the location of the pointer may include shifting the number of pointers to be skipped or shifting to a next pointer for loading the defective address (DA) without skipping. The fuse circuit 5 may provide a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub to the fuse array circuit 4 responsive to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk and the plurality of Token_Control_bits. The fuse circuit 5 may shift the token for loading the defective address (DA) without skipping by receiving the Fuse Data Out signal and providing the defective address (DA) and the enable bit (EB) responsive to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub. The fuse circuit 5 may provide a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1 to the redundancy latch block 3 responsive to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk. The fuse circuit 5 may further provide a Fuse_Data_Bus 8 with fuse data signals including valid data, such as the defective address (DA), or invalid data (e.g., all bit indicative of “0” or set to a logic low level) to the redundancy latch block 3. It should be noted that, as the invalid data is accompanied with at least the enable bit (EB) set to represent the invalid status, such as the logic low level, the remaining bits thereof may take either the logic low level or a logic high level. In case where the invalid status is represented by the logic high level, further, all the bits of the invalid data may take the logic high level.

The redundancy latch block 3 may include a plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 7 coupled in series for a plurality of respective banks (e.g., Bank0 to Bank7). The plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 7 coupled to the Fuse Data Bus 8 may latch logic states of the Fuse_Data_Bus signal responsive to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1. A bank pointer signal PtrBk<n> (n is an integer) may be transmitted between Bankn and Bank(n+1). For example, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 7 may provide a bank pointer signal PtrBk<0> to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 7. The bank pointer signal PtrBk<n> may represent a pointer of a latch in the plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 7 that may be activated to latch a logic state of the Fuse_Data_Bus signal. During an initialization of the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, a reset signal Fuse_Pointer_Rst may be provided to reset the fuse circuit 5 and the plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuit 7.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of data structure of a fuse array 20 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the fuse array 20 may be used as the fuse arrays 6 a to 6 g in FIG. 1. The fuse array 20 may include a plurality of fuses. The fuse array 20 may store Token_Control_Bits [1:0], though a number of bits in the plurality of Token_Control_Bits may not be limited to two. The fuse array 20 may further store fuse data, including a defective address (DA) and an enable bit (EB) for each bank. FIG. 2B is a table of data combinations of the fuse array 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The Token_Control_Bits [1:0] may be a binary number representing a number of pointers to be skipped to enable or disable loading of fuse data from the plurality of fuses in each fuse array 20. For example, a number of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 7 to be skipped for loading may be zero and loading is enabled (e.g., an enabled state) when the Token_Control_Bits [1:0] are “00”. Similarly, the number of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 7 to be skipped for loading may be one, two or three and loading to a latch addressed by the current pointer is disabled (e.g., a disabled state), when the Token_Control_Bits [1:0] are “01”, “10” or “11” respectively.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a redundancy latch (RL) circuit 30 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit 30 in FIG. 3 may be used as the redundancy latch (RL) circuit 7 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, “x” is a positive integer (x≧0) which identifies Bankx. The redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 30 may include a plurality of flip flop circuits 31 a to 31 d and a plurality of latches (LTs) 32 a to 32 d. In FIG. 3, a number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 a to 31 d and a number of the plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d are four, however, the number of the plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d and the number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 a to 31 d are not limited to four. For example, an actual number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 and an actual number of the plurality of latches (LTs) 32 may be a few hundreds. The plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d may capture data to be loaded and the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 a to 31 d may function as pointers associated with the latches 32 a to 32 d respectively, to load the data.

Each of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 a to 31 d may receive a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1 from the fuse block 2 at a clock input. For example, if the x is 0, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 30 may include the flip flop circuit (FF) 31 a that may receive a power supply voltage Vss (e.g., at a ground level) at a reset input and a Fuse_Pointer_Rst signal at a set input. As for each remaining redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank (x being other than 0), the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 30 may include the flip flop circuit (FF) 31 a that may receive a bank pointer PtrBk<x−1> at a set input and a Fuse_Pointer_Rst signal at a reset input. The flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 b to 31 d may receive output signals of the flip flop circuits (FFs) 31 a to 31 c respectively at a set input, and the Fuse_Pointer_Rst signal at a reset input. The flip flop circuit (FF) 31 d may provide a bank pointer PtrBk<x> as an output signal to a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx+1 30 (not shown).

A plurality of logic gates 33 a to 33 d (e.g., an AND circuit) may receive respective output signals of the plurality of flip-flops (FFs) 31 a to 31 d and the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1. The plurality of logic gates 33 a to 33 d may provide output signals Pointerx<0> to Pointerx<3> respectively, responsive to the corresponding output signals of the plurality of flip-flops (FFs) 31 a to 31 d and further to each predetermined edge (e.g., a rising edge or a falling edge) of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1.

The plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d coupled in series may receive fuse data, including a defective address (DA) and an enable bit (EB) for each bank, on the Fuse_Data_Bus 8 coupled to the fuse block 2. The plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d may further capture the fuse data in response to the respective output signals Pointerx<0> to Pointerx<3>. Although not shown, each of the plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d is provided to an associated one of a plurality of redundant rows and/or redundant columns to select redundant memory cells in each memory bank. Although not shown, each memory bank further includes a plurality of normal rows and columns to select a plurality of normal memory cells. Here, the plurality of normal rows and columns may include one or more defective rows and/or columns that are to be replaced with one or more corresponding redundant rows and/or columns among the plurality of redundant rows and/or columns, respectively. Thus, each of the plurality of latches 32 a to 32 d is configured to identify a corresponding one of the plurality of redundant rows and/or columns, which is to be used for a defective one of the plurality of normal rows or columns.

FIG. 4A is a simplified logic circuit diagram of a fuse circuit 40 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the fuse circuit 40 may be used as the fuse circuit 5 in FIG. 1. The fuse circuit 40 may include a gate control circuit 41 including a counter 42. The counter 42 may receive the Token_Control_Bits from the fuse array circuit 4 in FIG. 1 and set the number of latches to be skipped as a count as shown in FIG. 2B. If the count is not “0”, the counter 42 may decrement the count at each predetermined edge (e.g., a rising edge or a falling edge) of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk until the count reaches “0”. When the count set to the counter 42 responsive to the Token_Control_Bits is “0”, the count is kept constant (e.g., “0”).

The gate control circuit 41 may provide a token control signal Token_Ctrl responsive to the count of the counter 42. For example, the token control signal Token_Ctrl may be deactivated (e.g., set to a logic low level, “0”) when the count of the counter 42 is “0”. The token control signal Token_Ctrl may be activated (e.g., set to a logic high level, “1”) when the count of the counter 42 is not “0”. The fuse circuit 40 may include an inverter 44 coupled to the gate control circuit 41 and an AND circuit 45. The inverter 44 may receive the token control signal Token_Ctrl from the gate control circuit 41 and may further provide an inverted token control signal. The AND circuit 45 may receive the inverted token control signal and the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk and may further provide a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub to the fuse array circuit 4 when the count value of the counter 42 is “0”. Thus, the Fuse Data Out signal may be provided from the fuse array circuit 4 responsive to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub. The fuse circuit 40 may include a delay circuit 46 that may provide a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1 that has one clock cycle delay relative to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk.

The fuse circuit 40 may further include a multiplexer MUX 46. The multiplexer MUX 46 may receive the power supply voltage Vss (i.e., the logic low level, “0”) and the Fuse Data Out signal from the fuse array circuit 4. The multiplexer MUX 46 may provide either the power supply voltage Vss or the Fuse Data Out signal responsive to either the active token control signal Token_Ctrl (e.g., the logic high level, “1”) or the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl (e.g., the logic low level, “0”). A reset signal Fuse_Pointer_Rst may be used to initialize the fuse circuit 40, including resetting the counter 42, as well as resetting the RLs 7 in the redundancy latch block 3. For example, the reset signal Fuse_Pointer_Rst may be generated as a one-shot pulse signal prior to receiving the Fuse Data Out signal from the fuse array circuit 4 that is receiving the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit 4 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, corresponding to FIG. 4B. The fuse data on the fuse data bus may be thus latched in an order of the data sequence into the plurality of latches 32 of the RL circuit Bank0-7 30 as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4D is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, corresponding to FIG. 4B.

Upon receipt of the Token Control Bits “01” from the fuse array circuit 4 at T01, a count “01” is set to the counter 42, the gate control circuit 41 may provide the active token control signal Token_Ctrl. Responsive to the active token control signal Token_Ctrl from T01 to T12, the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide an all “0” signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8, regardless of the Fuse_Data_Out signal providing a first defective address DA1. The first defective address DA1 may be provided as the Fuse_Data_Out signal from the fuse array [1] 6 a of the fuse array circuit 4 until T23 responsive to the inactive reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub from T01 to T12 that is responsive to the active token control signal Token_Ctrl from T01 to T12.

At T12, the counter 42 decrements the count to “00”. Responsive to the count “00” at T12, the gate control circuit 41 may provide the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl. Responsive to the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl from T12 to T23, the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide the first defective address DA1 of the fuse array [1]6 a on the Fuse Data Bus 8. The first defective address DA1 may be provided as the Fuse_Data_Out signal from the fuse array [1] 6 a of the fuse array circuit 4 until T23 responsive to the active reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub from T12 to T23 that is responsive to the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl from T12 to T23. The count “00” is set to the counter 42 responsive to the Token Control Bits representing “00” from the fuse array [2] 6 b at T23 and from the fuse array [3] 6 c at T34. Responsive to the count “00” at T23 and T34, the gate control circuit 41 may provide the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl. The fuse array circuit 4 may provide a defective address DA2 of the fuse array [2] 6 b at T23 and a defective address DA3 of the fuse array [3] 6 c at T34 as the Fuse_Data_Out signal, responsive to the active reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub that is responsive to the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl from T23 to T45. The multiplexer MUX 43 may provide the Fuse_Data_Out signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8 responsive to the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl from T23 to T45.

Upon receipt of the Token Control Bits “11” from the fuse array [4] 6 d at T45, the count “11” is set to the counter 42 and the gate control circuit 41 may provide the active token control signal Token_Ctrl for three clock cycles until T78. Responsive to the active token control signal Token_Ctrl from T45 to T78, the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide an all “0” signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8 until T78, regardless of the Fuse_Data_Out signal providing a defective address DA4 from the fuse array [4] 6 d, while the counter 42 decrements the count at T56, T67 and T78. The fuse array circuit 4 may provide the defective address DA4 from the fuse array [4] 6 d as the Fuse_Data Out signal until T89 responsive to the inactive reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub from T45 to T78 that is responsive to the active token control signal Token_Ctrl from T45 to T78. At T78, the counter 42 decrements the count to “00”. Responsive to the count “00” at T78, the gate control circuit 41 may provide the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl. Responsive to the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl from T78 to T89, the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide the defective address DA4 on the Fuse Data Bus 8.

Upon receipt of the Token Control Bits “10” from the fuse array [5] 6 e at T89, the count “10” is set to the counter 42 and the gate control circuit 41 may provide the active token control signal Token_Ctrl for two clock cycles until T1011. Responsive to the active token control signal Token_Ctrl from T89 to T1011, the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide an all “0” signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8 until T1011, regardless of the Fuse_Data_Out signal providing a defective address DA5 from the fuse array [5] 6 e, while the counter 42 decrements the count at T910 and T1011. The fuse array circuit 4 may provide the defective address DA5 from the fuse array [5] 6 e as the Fuse_Data_Out signal responsive to the inactive reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk_sub from T89 to T1011 that is responsive to the active token control signal Token_Ctrl from T89 to T1011. At T1011, the counter 42 decrements the count to “00”. Responsive to the count “00” at T1011, the gate control circuit 41 may provide the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl. Responsive to the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl from T1011, the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide the defective address DA5 on the Fuse Data Bus 8. The respective invalid data (all “0”) and valid data (defective addresses DA1 to DA5, each of the defective addresses being accompanied with the enable bit (EB)) are latched in the order of the data sequence in FIG. 4C into the plurality of latches 32 of the RL circuit Bank0-7 30, responsive to each rising edge of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1 at respective T1 to T11. Thus, some of the plurality of latches 32 may be loaded with the invalid data and the remaining ones thereof are loaded with the valid data including the defective address and the enable bit data.

FIG. 5A is a circuit diagram of a plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 50 a and 50 b in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the redundancy latch (RL) circuits 50 a and 50 b in FIG. 5 may be used as the redundancy latch (RL) circuit 7 in FIG. 1.

The redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 50 a may include a plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 a to 51 d and a plurality of latches (LT) 52 a to 52 d. In FIG. 5A, a number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 a to 51 d and a number of the plurality of latches 52 a to 52 d are four, however, the number of the plurality of latches 52 a to 52 d and the number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 a to 51 d are not limited to four. The redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 50 a may include a plurality of RL groups 501 a and 501 b. The RL group 501 a may include a plurality of FFs 51 a and 51 b and a plurality of latches 52 a and 52 b. The RL group 501 b may include a plurality of FFs 51 c and 51 d and a plurality of latches 52 c and 52 d.

The redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 50 b may include a plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 e to 51 h and a plurality of latches (LT) 52 e to 52 h. In FIG. 5A, a number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 e to 51 h and a number of the plurality of latches 52 e to 52 h are four, however, the number of the plurality of latches 52 e to 52 h and the number of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 e to 51 h are not limited to four. The redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 50 b may include a plurality of RL groups 501 c and 501 d. The RL group 501 c may include a plurality of FFs 51 e and 51 f and a plurality of latches 52 e and 52 f. The RL group 501 d may include a plurality of FFs 51 g and 51 h and a plurality of latches 52 g and 52 h.

For example, the RL groups 501 a and 501 c are in a chain and a plurality of latches, including the latches 52 a, 52 b, 52 e and 52 f in the chain, may store Post Package Repair (PPR)/Back End (BE) defective address (DA) related to row/column addresses of defective cells detected in tests in a packaging process. The RL groups 501 b and 501 d are in another chain and a plurality of latches, including the latches 52 c, 52 d, 52 g and 52 h, in the other chain may store Front End (FE) defective address (DA) related to row/column addresses of defective cells detected in tests in a semiconductor wafer (e.g., chip/die) manufacturing process.

Each of the plurality of flip flop circuits (FFs) 51 a to 51 h may receive a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk1 from the fuse block 2 at a clock input. For example, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 50 a may include the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 a that may receive a power supply Vss (e.g., at a ground level) at a reset input and a Fuse_Pointer_Rst signal at a set input. Other than the flip flop circuit 51 a, the flip flop circuits 51 b to 51 h may receive a Fuse_Pointer_Rst signal at a reset input.

The flip flop circuit (FF) 51 b in the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 50 a may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 a at a set input. An output of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 b may be coupled to the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 e in the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 50 b. Thus, the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 e may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuits (FF) 51 b at a set input. The flip flop circuit (FF) 51 f may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 e at a set input. An output of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 f may be coupled to a flip flop circuit (FF) in the chain for PPR/BE data in a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank2 (not shown).

The flip flop circuit (FF) 51 c in the RL Bank0 50 a may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuit (FF) in a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank7 (e.g., a last FF of the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank7 (not shown)) at a set input. An output of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 c may be coupled to the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 d. Thus, the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 d may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 c at a set input. An output of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 d may be coupled to the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 g in the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 50 b. Thus, the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 g may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuits (FF) 51 d at a set input. The flip flop circuit (FF) 51 h may receive an output signal of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 g at a set input. An output of the flip flop circuit (FF) 51 g may be coupled to a flip flop circuit (FF) in the chain for FE data in the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank2.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit 4 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, corresponding to FIG. 5B. The fuse array circuit 4 may include a PPR/BE fuse data block 54 a and a FE fuse data block 54 b. The PPR/BE fuse data block 54 a may include fuse arrays storing the Token_Control_Bits and PPR/BE defective addresses PPR-BE-DA01 to PPR-BE-DA 7 w for Bank0 to Bank7, where w is a positive integer and the PPR-BE-DA01 to PPR-BE-DA7 w may be transmitted to the chain including the latches 52 a, 52 b, 52 e and 52 f. The front end (FE) fuse data block 54 b may include fuse arrays storing the Token_Control_Bits and front end defective addresses FE-DA01 to FE-DA 7 x for Bank0 to Bank7, where x is a positive integer and the FE-DA01 to FE-DA7 x may be transmitted to the chain including the latches 52 c, 52 d, 52 g and 52 h. Although not shown, each of the fuse data may further include an enable bit (EB) associated with PPR/BE or FE defective address (DA)

Upon receipt of the Token_Control_Bits “01” from the fuse array circuit 4, a count “01” may be set to the counter 42, and the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide an all “0” signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8 for one clock cycle as shown in FIG. 5C, before the multiplexer MUX 43 provides first defective address FE-DA01 to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 50 a. Upon receipt of the Token Control Bits “11” from the fuse array circuit 4, a count “11” may be set to the counter 42, and the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide an all “0” signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8 for three clock cycles as shown in FIG. 5C, before the multiplexer MUX 43 provides second defective address FE-DA02 to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 50 a. For Bank1, upon receipt of the Token Control Bits “00” from the fuse array circuit 4, a count “00” may be set to the counter 42, and the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide a first defective address FE-DA11 to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 50 b. Upon receipt of the Token Control Bits “10” from the fuse array circuit 4, a count “10” may be set to the counter 42, and the multiplexer MUX 43 may provide an all “0” signal on the Fuse Data Bus 8 for two clock cycles as shown in FIG. 5C, before the multiplexer MUX 43 provides a second defective addresses FE-DA12 to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank1 50 b. Thus, the Post Package Repair (PPR)/Back End (BE) defective addresses (DA) and the Front End (FE) defective addresses (DA) may be stored in the redundancy latch (RL) circuits 50 a, 50 b, . . . for each bank accordingly.

In some embodiments, defective cell information, such as a defective address, may be stored in two fuse arrays in case of having one fuse array of the two fuse arrays may become defective due to aging. FIG. 6A is a simplified logic circuit diagram of a fuse circuit 60 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6B is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 6A. For example, the fuse circuit 60 may be used as the fuse circuit 5 in FIG. 1. The fuse circuit 60 may include a one-stage counter 61. The one-stage counter 61 may receive a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk. The one-stage counter 61 may activate a latching clock signal LatClk and a token control signal Token_Ctrl having a cycle substantially the same as two clock cycles, responsive to a falling edge of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk at T01, T23, T45, T67, etc. in FIG. 6B. The latching clock signal LatClk may have a pulse width of a half clock cycle. The Token_Ctrl signal may be activated (e.g., having a rising edge) responsive to the falling edge of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk at T01, T23, T45, T67, etc. in FIG. 6B. The Token_Ctrl signal may further be deactivated (e.g., have a falling edge) responsive to the falling edge of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk at T12 at T12, T34, T56, T78, etc. in FIG. 6B due to the one-stage counter 61. The fuse circuit 60 may include a register 62 that may receive the latching clock signal LatClk from the one-stage counter 61 and the Fuse Data Out signal from the fuse array circuit 4, and may further latch the Fuse Data Out signal with the latching clock signal LatClk. For example, the register 62 may store defective addresses DA10, DA20, DA30, and DA40 in the Fuse Data Out signal at T01, T23, T45 and T67, responsive to the activated LatClk signal. When defective addresses DA10, DA11, DA20, DA21, DA30, DA31, DA40 and DA41 are stored in fuse arrays of the fuse array circuit 4, defective addresses DA11, DA21, DA31 and DA41 are stored as back up defective addresses of DA10, DA20, DA30 and DA40.

The fuse circuit 60 may further include a logic gate circuit 64 that may receive the Fuse Data Out signal and the latched Fuse Data Out signal representing data of the Fuse Data Out signal at one prior clock cycle from the register 62 at T12, T34, T56 and T78. The logic gate circuit 64 may be an OR circuit that computes a logical sum of the received signals or a NAND circuit that computes an inverted logical product of inverted signals of the received signals. Depending on definitions of fuse data for each logic level, the logic gate circuit 64 may be either an NOR circuit that computes an inverted logical sum of the received signals or a AND circuit that computes a logical product of inverted signals of the received signals. The fuse circuit 60 may further include a multiplexer MUX 63. The multiplexer MUX 63 may receive a negative power potential Vss and an output signal of the logic gate circuit 64. The multiplexer MUX 63 may provide either the power potential Vss or the output signal of the logic gate circuit 64 responsive to either the active token control signal Token_Ctrl (e.g., the logic high level, “1”) or the inactive token control signal Token_Ctrl (e.g., the logic low level, “0”). For example, the multiplexer MUX 63 may provide all “0” data on the fuse data bus 8 at T01, T23, T45, T67, etc. The multiplexer may MUX 63 may provide a result of OR operation of defective addresses DA10 and DA11 at T12, a result of OR operation of defective addresses DA20 and DA21 at T34, a result of OR operation of defective addresses DA30 and DA31 at T56, and a result of OR operation of defective addresses DA40 and DA41 at T78. Thus, proper fuse data may be retrieved and provided on the fuse data bus 8 by storing fuse data in two fuse arrays and computing OR of defective addresses stored in a plurality of fuse arrays (e.g., two fuse arrays), when fuse data including a defective address in one fuse array is deteriorated.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70 in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70 may include a fuse block 72 and a redundancy latch block 73. The fuse block 72 may include a decoder circuit 76 and a fuse array circuit 744 including a plurality of fuse arrays [0:n] 74 a to 74 g. Each of the fuse arrays 74 a to 74 g may include a plurality of fuses and may further store a token and a plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0] indicative of a bank ID the token is associated. Thus, the token may be stored in any redundancy latch associated with the bank ID. Each fuse may be any kind of fuses. For example, each fuse may be a laser-fuse, an anti-fuse, etc.

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit 74 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus 78 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, corresponding to FIG. 7B. The token may include a defective address (DA) including a row address and a column address of a defective cell. For example, the defective address (DA) may be a defective address FE-DAxy (x represents the bank ID represented by the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0], y represents an order in Bankx) detected by a test in a manufacturing (front end [FE]) process. The defective address (DA) may be a defective address BEn-DAxy detected by a test in a packaging process (Post Package Repair [PPR]/Back End [BE]), where n is a BE test ID associated with a test in the packaging process in which the defective address is detected. For example, the y-th defective address in Bankx in a first test in the packaging process may be identified as BE1-DAxy. The y-th defective address in Bankx in a second test in the packaging process may be identified as BE2-DAxy.

A decoder circuit 76 may convert the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0] into a plurality of bank enable bits FuseBankEn [7:0]. Each bit of FuseBankEn<0> to FuseBankEn<7> may be activated responsive to the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0]. For example, FuseBankEn<1> may be activated responsive to “001” in the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0]. FuseBankEn<2> may be activated responsive to “010” in the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0]. FuseBankEn<3> may be activated responsive to “011” in the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0]. FuseBankEn<0> may be activated responsive to “000” in the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0]. FuseBankEn<7> may be activated responsive to “111” in the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0].

The fuse block 72 may provide a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk to the redundancy latch block 73. The fuse block 72 may further provide fuse data signals including valid data such as the defective address (DA) or invalid data (e.g., all bit indicative of “0” or set to a logic low level) to the redundancy latch block 73 via a data bus Fuse Data Bus 78. The redundancy latch block 73 may include a plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 77 a to 77 h coupled in series for a plurality of respective banks (e.g., Bank0 to Bank7). The plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 77 a to 77 h coupled to the Fuse Data Bus 78 may latch logic states of the Fuse_Data_Bus signal responsive to the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk and further responsive to a respective bit of the plurality of bank enable bits FuseBankEn [0:7]. For example, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank0 77 a may latch the Fuse_Data_Bus signal responsive to the FuseBankEn<0>. For example, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bank5 77 f may latch the Fuse_Data_Bus signal responsive to the FuseBankEn<5>. During an initialization of the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, a reset signal Fuse_Pointer_Rst may be provided to the plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 77 a to 77 h.

FIG. 7D is a circuit diagram a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 77 x of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 77 a to 77 h in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The redundancy latch (RL) Bankx 77 x is similar to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 30 of FIG. 3. Description of components in FIG. 7D corresponding to components included in FIG. 3 previously described will not be repeated. However, in contrast to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 30 of FIG. 3, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit 77 x may further include a logic gate 79 that receives a corresponding bank enable bit FuseBankEn<x>. Thus, the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk may be provided to the FFs 31 a to 31 d when Bankx is addressed for latching data on the Fuse Data Bus 78. In this manner, the defective addresses of any bank stored in fuse arrays in a different order, or in different tests in the packaging process, may be stored in redundancy latches associated with the corresponding bank IDs indicated by the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0] stored in the fuse arrays.

FIG. 7E is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, corresponding to FIGS. 7A to 7D. While loading defective addresses detected by the test in the manufacturing (front end [FE]) process, a bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> may be activated, and Pointer0<0> signal and Pointer0<1> signal are activated in this order, responsive to “0” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time TfR, followed by an active bank enable bit FuseBankEn<1> that activates Pointer1<0> signal and Pointer1<1>, responsive to “001” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tf1. After loading the defective addresses detected by the test in the manufacturing (front end [FE]) process, defective addresses detected by the test in the packaging (back end [BE]) process may be loaded. A bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> may be activated, and Pointer0<2> signal and Pointer0<3> signal are activated in this order, responsive to “0” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tb0, followed by an active bank enable bit FuseBankEn<1> that activates Pointer1<2> signal and Pointer1<3>, responsive to “001” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tb1. Thus, defective addresses detected in different tests for each bank may be loaded to corresponding redundancy latches for each bank.

Bank selection may be executed by a counter instead of including a plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0] representing a bank ID. FIG. 8A is a simplified logic circuit diagram of a fuse block 82 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fuse block 82 may be used in place of the fuse block 72 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70. Responsive to a reset signal (not shown), a counter 88 may set a count to 0. FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of a fuse array circuit 83 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of a data sequence of fuse data on the fuse data bus 78 (and thus fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs)) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 8B. Each fuse array in the fuse array circuit 83 may store a defective address and the bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse that indicates a relationship between a bank associated with a defective address of a current fuse array and a bank associated with a defective address of a next fuse array. When the bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse is active (e.g., “1”), a next fuse array may include a defective address for a next bank. For example, a bank identification number associated with a defective address of the next fuse array is obtained by incrementing a bank identification number associated with a defective address of the current fuse array. For example, the current fuse array includes a defective address of Bank0 and the bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse that is not active (e.g., “0”), the next fuse array may include another defective address of Bank0. In contrast, if the current fuse array includes a defective address of Bank0 and the active bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse (e.g., “1”), the next fuse array includes a defective address of Bank1.

A logic gate 87 in the fuse block 82 may receive a bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse from each fuse array in the fuse array circuit 83. If the bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse is active (e.g., “1”) the logic gate 87 may provide an active output signal responsive to an active period of a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk. If at least one of the bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse and the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk is not active, the logic gate 87 may deactivate the output signal. The counter 88 may increment the count responsive to the active output signal of the logic gate 87. The count is indicative of a bank to be enabled, and the count is provided as the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0]. A decoder circuit 86 may convert the plurality of bank selection bits FuseBankSel [2:0] into a plurality of bank enable bits FuseBankEn [7:0].

FIG. 8D is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 70, corresponding to FIGS. 8A to 8C. While loading defective addresses detected by the test in the manufacturing (front end [FE]) process, a bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> may be activated, and Pointer0<0> signal and Pointer0<1> signal are activated in this order, responsive to “0” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tf0. While loading a last defective address for Bank0 in the test in the manufacturing process, the bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse may be set to “1”. Responsive to the active bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse, the counter may provide “001” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tf1, and the decoder circuit 86 may provide an active bank enable bit FuseBankEn<1> that activates Pointer1<0> signal and Pointer1<1>, responsive to “001” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tf1. After loading the defective addresses detected by the test in the manufacturing (front end [FE]) process, defective addresses detected by the test in the packaging (back end [BE]) process may be loaded. A bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> may be activated, and Pointer0<2> signal may be activated, responsive to “0” of FuseBankSel [2:0] at time Tb0, followed by a continuously active bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse. An active bank enable bit FuseBankEn<1> may be provided to activate Pointer1<2> signal and Pointer1<3>, responsive to “001” of FuseBankSel [2:0] that is responsive to the continuously active bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse at time Tb1. Thus, defective addresses detected in different tests for each bank may be loaded to corresponding redundancy latches for each bank.

Redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) may be provided when a redundancy latch may be defective. FIG. 9A is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 90 in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Description of components in FIG. 9A corresponding to components included in FIG. 7A previously described will not be repeated. For example, the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 90 may include a fuse block 92 and a redundancy latch block 93. The fuse block 92 may include a fuse array circuit 93. The redundancy latch block 93 may include redundancy latch (RL) circuits 97 a to 97 h. The redundancy latch (RL) circuits 97 a to 97 h may further receive an all bank fuse enable signal FuseAllBankEn and a corresponding redundancy error detection signal REDErrorDetect<0> to <7>, in addition to data from a data fuse bus 98, a reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk and a reset signal Fuse_Pointer_Rst.

FIG. 9B is a circuit diagram a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 97 x of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 97 a to 97 h in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 90, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Description of components in FIG. 9B corresponding to components included in FIG. 7D previously described, such as latches 102 a to 102 d corresponding to the latches 72 a to 72 d and a plurality of logic gates 103 a to 103 d corresponding to the plurality of logic gates 33 a to 33 d, will not be repeated. However, in contrast to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 77 x of FIG. 7D, the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 97 x may further include error detect latches 104 a to 104 d and a logic gate 100. The logic gate 100 may receive the all bank fuse enable signal FuseAllBankEn and a corresponding bank enable bit FuseBankEn<x> and may further provide an active output signal to a logic gate 99, if at least one of the all bank fuse enable signal FuseAllBankEn and the corresponding bank enable bit FuseBankEn<x> is active. Thus, the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk may be provided to the FFs 101 a to 101 d when Bankx is addressed for latching data on the Fuse Data Bus 98.

FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit 93 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 90, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9D is a schematic diagram of fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs) 97 x in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 90, corresponding to FIG. 9C. The fuse array circuit 93 may store the redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) in addition to defective addresses (DAs) and bank control fuse bits BKCtrlFuse described in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8D. For example, the fuse array circuit 93 may include fuse arrays [0:N] for storing the redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) for Pointerx<0> to Pointerx<N> respectively, where N is a number of Pointers in each bank and “x” is a positive integer (x≧0) which identifies Bankx. The redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) may be activated (e.g., set to “1”) when a cell for redundancy data is defective, and a corresponding error detect latch of the error detect latches 104 a to 104 d may provide error signal errx<0> responsive to a corresponding redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect)<x>. If the latched redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect)<x> is active, indicating of the defective cell for redundancy data, a corresponding pointer may be skipped and the defect cell for redundancy data may be disabled.

For example, a fuse array [0] may store redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) including a bit for Bank1 active (e.g., “1”). Responsive to the bit for Bank1 of redundant error detection information in the fuse array [0], a latch 104 a for a cell for redundancy data corresponding to Pointer1<0> for Bank1 may be disabled as shown in FIG. 9D. Responsive to active bits of redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) for Bank1 and Bank0 in a fuse array [1], a latch 104 b for a cell for redundancy data corresponding to Pointer1<1> for Bank1 and a latch 104 b for a cell for redundancy data corresponding to Pointer0<1> for Bank0 may be disabled as shown in FIG. 9D. Fuse arrays [2, 3, . . . N] may not include any active bit in redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect), and all bank pointers may be enabled.

The redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect)<x> may be loaded prior to loading fuse data including defective addresses (DAs) and bank control fuse bits BKCtrlFuse as shown in FIG. 9C. Thus, the redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect)<x> may be provided to the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 97 x prior to defective addresses (DAs). In loading the redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect), the latches 102 a to 102 d of the banks may be activated responsive to an active all bank fuse enable signal FuseAllBankEn (e.g., “1”) to latch the REDErrorDetect<x> for all banks. The error detect latches 104 a to 10 d in the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 97 x may provide a corresponding error signal of error signals Errx<0> to Errx<3> responsive to the REDErrorDetect<x> and a corresponding pointer signal of Pointerx<0> to Pointerx<3>. For example, when one Errx<0> may be activated (e.g., set to “1”) and a reversed signal of the Errx<0> may be provided to a logic gate 103 a to deactivate a corresponding Pointerx<0>, and a corresponding latch 102 a may be disabled responsive to the deactivated Pointerx<0>. Thus, at loading the fuse data, including defective addresses (DAs) and enable bits (EBs), the latches 102 a to 102 d may be activated or deactivated responsive to the bank enable bit FuseBankEn<x>, responsive to the error signals Errx<0> to Errx<3>, and redundancy data from defective cells may not be loaded to corresponding latches of the deactivated latches 102 a to 102 d in the redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx 97 x.

FIG. 9E is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 90, corresponding to FIGS. 9A to 9D. Prior to loading defective addresses detected by the test in the manufacturing (front end [FE]) process, the all bank fuse enable signal FuseAllBankEn may be activated and the redundant error detection information (REDErrorDetect) may be loaded. For example, first data “2” on the fuse data bus after an activation of the all bank fuse enable signal FuseAllBankEn corresponds to the fuse array [0] in FIG. 9C. Responsive to the first data “2”, Err[0] indicates “2”. Preceded by the first data “2”, second data “3” on the fuse data bus corresponds to the fuse array [1] in FIG. 9C. Responsive to the second data “3”, Err[1] indicates “3”. Responsive to a one shot pulse signal of Fuse_Pointer_Rst signal, fuse data from the test in the manufacturing (front end [FE]) process may be loaded. Here, the bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> may be activated at T0. Based on Err[0] indicating “2”, the Pointer0<1> may not be deactivated (e.g., maintain “0” level). Preceded by an active bank control fuse bit BKCtrlFuse signal, the bank enable bit FuseBankEn<1> may be activated and the fuse data bus 98 may provide data for Bank1. Based on Err[1] indicating “3”, the Pointer1<0> and Pointer1<1> may not be activated (e.g., maintain “0” level). Thus, loading redundancy data to redundancy latches from defective cells may be disabled pointer by pointer.

FIG. 10A is a block diagram of a redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 100 in a semiconductor device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 100 may include a fuse block 102 and a redundancy latch block 103. The fuse block 102 may include a fuse array circuit 104 including a plurality of fuse arrays [0:n] 104 a to 104 g. Each of the fuse arrays 104 a to 104 g may include a plurality of fuses. The redundancy latch block 103 may include a plurality of redundancy latch (RL) circuits 107 a to 107 h coupled in series for a plurality of respective banks (e.g., Bank0 to Bank7).

FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a data structure of the fuse array circuit 104 in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fuse array circuit 104 may include a plurality of first tokens (e.g., bank select tokens: Select Bankx, x being 0 to 7). Each of the plurality of first tokens may store bank select data designating a bank into which fuse data are to be loaded/transferred. For example, the most significant bit (MSB) of each of the plurality of first tokens may be programmed with “1” to indicate that this token is subject to bank selection, and the succeeding three bits are stored with the bank select data indicating information of the bank to be selected. The fuse array circuit 104 may further include a plurality of second tokens (e.g., defective address tokens). Each of the plurality of second tokens may store a defective address (DA) including a row address and a column address of a defective cell. For example, the defective address (DA) may be a defective address FE-DAxy (x represents the bank ID represented by the plurality of bank selection token, y represents an order in Bankx) detected by a test in a manufacturing (e.g., front end [FE]) process. The defective address (DA) may be a defective address BEn-DAxy detected by a test in a packaging process (Post Package Repair [PPR]/Back End [BE]), where n is a BE test ID associated with a test in the packaging process in which the defective address is detected. For example, the y-th defective address in Bankx in a first test in the packaging process may be identified as BE1-DAxy. The y-th defective address in Bankx in a second test in the packaging process may be identified as BE2-DAxy. For example, the MSB of each of the second tokens for defective addresses may indicate “0” in order to differentiate it from the first tokens for bank selection. Each of the first tokens and the second tokens may have n-bits (for example, n may be, but not limited to, 16), and may be read out from the fuse array circuit 104 and transferred onto a fuse data bus 108 in FIG. 10A, in response to each rising edge of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk.

FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram of fuse data latched in respective redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIG. 10B. FIG. 10D is a circuit diagram a redundancy latch (RL) circuit Bankx of redundancy latch circuits (RLs) in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10E is a timing diagram of signals in the redundancy data loading/transmitting circuit, corresponding to FIGS. 10A to 10D.

Each redundancy latch (RL) circuit 107 x for BankX (X being 0 to 7), such as the redundancy latch circuits 107 a to 107 h in FIG. 10A, may include a decoder 110. For example, the decoder<X> 110 shown in FIG. 10D is for Bank0. Of the n-bits fuse data on the fuse data bus 108, more significant four bits (e.g., FuseBankSel<3:0>) including MSB may be provided to the decoders 110 of the respective Bank0-Bank7. The decoder<X>110 for Bank0 may set a bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> as FuseBankEn <X> to an active level (e.g., a logic high level) in response to a falling edge of the reference clock signal Fuse_Load_Clk. As the active level is also used for an enable bit for the respective defective addresses, the bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> is merged with (n−1)-bits data (e.g., except the MSB) on the fuse data bus 108. As a result, all the FE defective addresses following the bank select token for Bank0 (Select Bank0) are loaded in sequence into the redundancy latch circuits 107 x (e.g., the redundancy latch circuit of Bank0 107 a), as shown in FIGS. 10C and 10E.

When a bank select token for Bank1 is read out from the fuse array circuit 102, the bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> is set to an inactive level (e.g., a logic low level), and a bank enable bit FuseBankEn<1> in Bank1 is set to the active level by the decoder 110 of Bank1. The above mentioned operations are thus performed for respective FE defective addresses for Bank1 as well as for the remaining Bank2 to Bank7.

When the bank select token for Bank0 is read out again from the fuse array circuit 102 for BE1 defective addresses, the bank enable bit FuseBankEn<0> may be set to the inactive level. At this time, a location of a pointer is shifted to a logic gate 33 c to provide a signal from a FF 31 c, and defective addresses BE1-DA00 and BE1-DA01 are latched into latches 32 c and 32 d, respectively. Thus, FE defective addresses detected in a manufacturing process, and defective addresses detected in a plurality of tests in a packaging process, such as BE1 defective addresses and BE2 defective addresses may be loaded to the respective Bank0 to Bank7.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the inventions extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, other modifications which are within the scope of this invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based on this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combination or sub-combination of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying mode of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a bus; a plurality of latches coupled to the bus and configured to be activated one-by-one, wherein an activated latch of the plurality of latches is configured to capture data on the bus; and a control circuit configured to provide the bus with valid data when a first latch of the plurality of latches is activated and further configured to provide the bus with invalid data when a second latch of the plurality of latches is activated.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a plurality of input data, each input data of the plurality of input data including a data portion and a token portion, and wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the bus with the valid data corresponding to the data portion when the token portion has a first state and further configured to provide the bus with the invalid data when the token portion has a second state.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second state of the token portion indicates a number of latches capturing the invalid data.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the bus with the valid data and the invalid data alternately.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the number of latches indicated by the token portion is more than one, and wherein the data portion associated with the token portion having the second state is captured as the valid data by a latch of the plurality of latches that is to be activated subsequently to latches of the plurality of latches having been activated by the number indicated by the second state of the token portion.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a plurality of pairs of input data, and wherein the control circuit is configured, with respect to each of the plurality of pairs of input data, to provide the bus with the valid data and the invalid data alternately, the valid data being derived by performing one of a logical OR operation and a logical AND operation on a corresponding one of the plurality of pairs of input data.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide redundant error detection information on the bus prior to providing data including defective addresses on the bus, and wherein the redundant error detection information is related to a cell for redundancy data that is defective.
 8. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of fuse arrays, each fuse array of the plurality of fuse arrays being configured to store input data; a fuse circuit configured to receive the input data, and further configured to provide the input data on a bus; and a plurality of redundancy latch circuits coupled to the bus, comprising a plurality of pointers and a plurality of latches associated with the plurality of corresponding pointers and configured to load data on the bus; wherein the fuse circuit is configured to control loading of the input data by controlling a location of a pointer among the plurality of corresponding pointers responsive to the input data.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input data comprise a defective address and a token representing a number of pointers to be skipped, and wherein the fuse circuit is configured to provide invalid data to latches among the plurality of latches corresponding to the number of pointers to be skipped and further configured to provide valid data to a latch among the plurality of latches corresponding to a pointer next to the number of pointers to be skipped.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each redundancy latch circuit of the plurality of redundancy latch circuits comprises a first redundancy latch group comprising a plurality of first latches configured to load and a plurality of first pointers associated with the plurality of first latches and a second redundancy latch group comprising a plurality of second latches and a plurality of second pointers associated with the plurality of second latches, and wherein the first pointers in the first redundancy latch groups of the plurality of redundancy latch circuits are coupled in series in a first chain and the second pointers of the second redundancy latch groups of the plurality of redundancy latch circuits are coupled in series in a second chain.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a plurality of consecutive fuse arrays in the plurality of fuse arrays are configured to store an identical defective address; wherein the fuse circuit is configured to read data from the plurality of consecutive fuse arrays and further configured to provide a logical sum of the data from the plurality of consecutive fuse arrays.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each fuse array of the plurality of fuse arrays is configured to store input data including a defective address and a token representing bank information associated with the defective address, and wherein the fuse circuit comprises a decoder configured to provide an enable signal or a disable signal for each bank responsive to the bank information from each fuse array.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bank information is indicative of a relationship between a bank identification number of a current fuse array and a bank identification number of a next fuse array, and wherein the fuse circuit further comprises a counter configured to store a bank identification number of a current fuse array and configured to compute the bank identification number of the current fuse array to obtain the bank identification number of a next fuse array responsive to the bank information.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of fuse arrays are further configured to store redundant error detection information related to a cell for redundancy data that is defective, wherein the fuse circuit is further configured to provide redundant error detection information on the bus prior to providing data including defective addresses on the bus, and each redundancy latch circuit of the plurality of redundancy latch circuits further comprises a plurality of error detect latches corresponding to the plurality of latches, the plurality of error detect latches are configured to disable the corresponding plurality of latches responsive to the redundant error detection information on the bus, prior to receiving the data including defective addresses on the bus.
 15. A method of transmitting fuse data, comprising: receiving input data stored in a fuse array; controlling a location of a pointer responsive to the input data; providing the input data on a bus; and loading the input data on the bus into a latch associated with the pointer among a plurality of latches coupled to the bus.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the input data comprise a defective address and a token representing a number of pointers to be skipped, the method further comprising: providing invalid data to latches among the plurality of latches corresponding to the number of pointers to be skipped; and providing valid data to a latch among the plurality of latches corresponding to a pointer next to the number of pointers to be skipped.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of latches includes: a first group of latches associated with a first group of pointers across banks coupled in series in a first chain; and a second group of latches associated with a second group of pointers across banks coupled in series in a second chain, the method further comprising: providing input data to the first group of latches consecutively; and providing input data to the second group of latches consecutively.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a different input data stored in a different fuse array consecutive to the fuse array; computing a logical sum of the input data and the different input data; and providing the logical sum as the input data on a bus.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a defective address and bank information from the input data; decoding the bank information; and providing an enable signal or a disable signal for each bank responsive to the bank information.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bank information is indicative of a relationship between a bank identification number of a defective address in a current fuse array and a bank identification number of a defective address in a next fuse array, the method further comprising: storing the bank identification number of a defective address in the input data of a current fuse array in a counter; computing the bank identification number of a next fuse array by the counter based on the bank identification number of a current fuse array and the bank information. 